Just 300 examples of the Master Series were built by California Audio Labs in 1994 – by hand, and in the most exclusive execution possible at the time. The CD transport and the SC-Twenty tube DAC are finished in genuine 24-carat gold, as are the massive 450-gram remote control and a large part of the circuit boards inside. The combination ranked among the most expensive tube CD player pairings on the world market back then, and today it is a sought-after rarity among collectors of classic audio equipment.
This particular set stands out even further: in the course of a very thorough, professional revision by an electrical engineer it received an audio modification. The converter section was upgraded to the higher-grade EC-88 tubes, and the upper board assembly was newly developed for this purpose and fitted with audiophile parts including Mundorf components. Transport and DAC operate as one unit, linked by the supplied special five-pin digital cable; output is taken from the analog RCA connection, while the remaining sockets were deliberately decommissioned as part of the modification.
The transport offers fast access times and reads CDs and CD-RWs without errors, and the 18-bit tube DAC is configured for 240-volt EU operation. The remote control was also elaborately restored inside. Cosmetically, both units show no discernible flaws: all lettering is fully raised, the display is clearly legible, the gold plating of the finest quality – the set comes from little-used collector stock.
The sale is handled discreetly on behalf of a customer, from long-standing first ownership; the units carry serial numbers 14 (DAC) and 17 (transport). The set comprises transport, DAC, the original remote, the special digital cable and two power cords; no further accessories are included, and twelve months of warranty apply. Given the value and delicacy of these pieces we recommend personal collection; a trade-in with value adjustment is conceivable on request.
